Al-hodeidah: Al-Hodeidah Governor, Abdullah Atifi, inaugurated the cotton harvest season for the year 1447 AH at Al-Jarabah farms in the Al-Kudan area of Al-Dhahi District. The launch was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, funded by the Governorate's Agricultural and Fisheries Projects Initiatives Financing Unit, and implemented by the General Corporation for Improved Seed Multiplication.
According to Yemen News Agency, Governor Atifi emphasized the importance of expanding the cultivation of cash crops, particularly cotton, as a vital economic contributor that supports the national economy, ensures self-sufficiency, and strengthens related domestic industries, especially the spinning and textile sector. He pointed out that supporting farmers and financing specialized agricultural initiatives align with the state's objectives to advance the agricultural sector, enhance local production, and reinforce the resilience of agriculture, restoring cotton's historic role as a strategic crop for which Tihamah was long renowned.
Governor Atifi also praised the role of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Projects Financing Unit in supporting farmers and encouraging them to return to cotton cultivation, considering it a promising strategic crop in the governorate. Ghalib Hamza, the Governorate's Deputy for Northern District Affairs, described the harvest launch as the fruit of joint efforts between relevant authorities and farmers, reflecting growing interest in reviving cotton cultivation in Tihamah, which contributes to job creation and improves the income levels of farming households.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Al-Makhadhi, the Chairman of the Spinning and Textile Corporation, noted that the institution places great importance on providing production inputs and coordinating with relevant bodies to ensure the sustainability of cotton cultivation. This effort aims to meet the national factories' raw material needs and enhance integration between the agricultural and industrial sectors.
Yahya Al-Wada'i, the Director of the General Corporation for Improved Seed Multiplication, explained that the corporation has provided high-yield improved seeds suitable for the soils of Tihamah, contributing to increased productivity and improved cotton quality. He affirmed the corporation's commitment to expanding multiplication and distribution programs and offering technical guidance to farmers, promoting sustainable cotton cultivation, generating profitable returns for farmers, and supporting the national economy.
Additionally, Yahya Al-Wada'i, the Director General of the Governorate's Projects Financing Unit, highlighted the continued support and funding of priority agricultural and fisheries projects and initiatives to boost production and achieve sustainable development. Following the launch, the governor and attendees toured the fields, inspecting production levels and crop quality, and heard from specialists and farmers about the stages of cultivation, challenges faced, and ways to address them, stressing the importance of collective efforts to expand cotton cultivation in future seasons.